NCAA Football 08 (360)

[Koopa W.]

I rented NCAA 08 yesterday for my 360. So far, I think it is definately the best football game ever made. I highly reccomend it. A+.

[VideoGameCritic]

Koopa - your message was lame!  We want details!  What are the graphics like?  Are there any new features or controls?  Can you may the fans in the seats hold up obscene signs?

[andrew]

not only lame you can't give a game an A+ after a night! When I would play mediocre games after day one I would usually say its not that bad. Then the next couple of days the flaws start to add up and suddenly you realize its no C title, its a D or F title . Examples of this for me were spiderman 3 and showdown: legends of wrestling. Play regularly for at least three - five days before review.

[Michael D]

Koopa's post is a clear example of one of two things (or perhaps even both);

1. EA fanboyism
2. Football Fanboyism

And it's people like this who blindly buy EA's football games every single year, no matter what the quality, yet they leave great and original games like Okami and Odin Sphere languishing on the store shelves.  And sadly, there are far too many consumers like this in our industry.  

[Steerforth]

Poor Koopa.

Isn't there is a chance he really does like this game and will continue to? Enjoy your game Koopa.

[feilong801]

[QUOTE=Michael D]Koopa's post is a clear example of one of two things (or perhaps even both);

1. EA fanboyism
2. Football Fanboyism

And it's people like this who blindly buy EA's football games every single year, no matter what the quality, yet they leave great and original games like Okami and Odin Sphere languishing on the store shelves.  And sadly, there are far too many consumers like this in our industry.  
[/QUOTE]

I don't see it that way. That football videogames should be popular is obvious. Pro and college football are massive diversions in America.

The burden is on the publishers of games like Okami to educate the public about the game. Inafune himself actually said the reason why Okami failed is because Clover Studios did not let Capcom's marketing department exploit the game correctly.

For the most part, I view poor selling games as a failure of the marketing department and publisher, not the public.

-Rob

[Koopa W.]

I've been playing it a LOT. I still feel the same way I did. The next-gen graphics are some of the best I've seen. The only problem is that on my SDTV, the words are too darn small. There are a TON of new features. The 360 version is lacking a few features, like create a team, Division I-AA (FCS) teams, and a few other little things I noticed. Nothing majorly lacking. As for the new features, Campus Legend mode is AWESOME! Dynasty mode has been completely redone and is way better for it. The controls are much better than in NCAA 07, which wasn't a very good game. The sign feature is not avalible either.  I am not an EA fan. I can't stand that idiot corporation. But for once they actually got of their evil asses and put a lot of work into a game. It paid off. And yes, I am a big college football fan. I study, watch, and video game play it passionately. I am definately buying NCAA 08. It will be the first football game I've bought since NCAA and Madden's 2005 editions. And I wasn't very interested in Okami, but I want to try Odin Sphere. I still give NCAA 08 an A+ after three days of nearly non-stop playing.

Thank you, Steerforth and Rob for defending me.

[Michael D]

To say that I owe Koopa (and everyone else here) an apology is a gross understatement. 

I was far too quick to judge and personally attack, and it was completely unbecoming and uncharacteristic of me.  I was in something of bad mood when I wrote that post, but even that doesn't justify what I did.  Even if I do wish more gamers would explore the treasures a little off the beaten (and licensed) path, attacking people in such a way was not the right way to do it.

I hope that Koopa and everyone else accepts my sincere apology and I promise I'll never be so inflammatory again; you can hold me to it. 

[smokeydadog]

I don't have a 360 yet, but I can certainly vouch for the original Xbox version of NCAA. They didn't make any major changes but instead fixed some of the little problems and added another layer of polish. The zoomed-in kick return cam is now optional, for instance, and they added "The Shrine" where you can view stats, greatest games, unlockables, etc. The only flaw I've found at all is the horrible roughing-the-quarterback calls. I swear they flagged me if I even thought about sacking  the QB, and that was with the slider turned all the way off! Otherwise, awesome game. I bear the same fashionable EA hatred as most of you guys, but this is one hell of a football game.

[JasonhasRSI1]

[QUOTE=Michael D]Even if I do wish more gamers would explore the treasures a little off the beaten (and licensed) path, attacking people in such a way was not the right way to do it.

[/QUOTE]

The ironic thing is, is there anything really "off the beaten path" about Okami or Odin Sphere"? Both are releases for one of the best selling systems of all time, albeit at the tail end of the system's life. Capcom is a publishing juggernaut, and Atlus, while releasing in relatively lower quantity than others, is certainly no 'little company that could'.

Regarding football games, I will buy them as long as they are of high quality, regardless of how often they come out. I'm excited to check out NCAA '08, in light of Koopa's comments.